Immigration issues currently dominate discussions in the Dutch Parliament and media. The assassination of the anti-immigration politician Pym Fortuin led to sweeping changes in the way requests for asylum are handled. The result is that the Netherlands now turns away thousands of applicants for asylum - many of them children. Last year 6,000 unaccompanied minor refugees requested asylum in Holland. In the past, most of these arrivals were integrated into society and given citizenship. Now 80 percent will be returned to their home countries. On their 18th birthday, they have 28 days to leave the Netherlands. In the meantime, they wait out their time in asylum centers where they are discouraged from taking part in Dutch society. In this program we tell the stories of two Rwandan girls in the midst of their 28 days.

Program Credits

28 Days was produced by Michele Ernsting
of Radio
Netherlands. This program airs as part
of the Soundprint
series Global Perspectives: Looking for
Home.

Resources

Links:Global Perspectives: Looking for HomeThis edition of Global Perspectives, entitled 'Looking for Home' explores the theme of immigration and the impact of an ever-changing global landscape on people's lives.